About this project

$31,479

617

Thank you everyone! Your pledges have made the Baker Street RPG possible. We really appreciate all of your support!

We will be providing regular updates here on Kickstarter as well as on Facebook! Please follow Fearlight on Facebook for all the latest news! www.facebook.com/FearlightGames

Additionally, for those of you that may not have been able to support the project here on Kickstarter, a new Fearlight Games website will be launching very soon. Any of the recent additions to the campaign that you might have missed out on will be available in our webstore. You can find us at: http://www.fearlightgames.com/

Thank You!Fearlight Games

Sherlock Holmes is Missing and Presumed Dead!

Intrepid investigators are asked by the stoic Dr. Watson to take cases out of Baker Street in Holmes’s absence. Victorian streets, foggy nights, and crime most foul await. Will the nefarious plans of crafty villains come to fruition or can the champions of justice from Baker Street save the day?

Baker Street is a Role Playing Game in which the players attempt to solve some of the most baffling crimes in history. Featuring over 30 careers, 25 unique criminal extras, and rules for making your own nefarious villains, Baker Street features a robust investigation mechanic, easy character generation, and rules for making your own mystery.

Some of the unique features of Baker Street are The Sherlock Die, Investigation Scenes, Clue Cards, Social Status, and the Threat Meter. Additional information on several of these follow, with more detail and content to follow in updates.

The Sherlock Die

The Sherlock Die is a special die that is rolled with every roll in the game. The sides are numerical 1, 2, 3, a Watson icon, a Moriarty icon, and a Sherlock icon. If the result of The Sherlock Die is a numerical value (1, 2, or 3), that value rolled on any of the other dice in the roll is counted as a success. A Sherlock Holmes icon is a wild result and allows an investigator the choice of a 1, 2, or 3. A Watson result allows the investigator to gain one extra success, and a Professor Moriarty result is a bad result. When Moriarty is rolled, each unsuccessful result removes one success from the roll.

The Sherlock Die

An example roll using one of our laser engraved Sherlock Dice that has icons based on Sidney Paget artwork.

Sherlock allows the player to choose a result that becomes a success. Now 1s can count as successes!

Investigation Scenes

Investigating a scene is the driving engine of this game. The trick is to get enough clues fast enough so that the criminals don't have enough time to get away or further their plans.
Played in a series of rounds, Investigation Scenes have investigators making Observation, Reason, and Deduction Skill Rolls to uncover clues, weed out false clues, and uncover possible leads to help them in their investigation. Be careful though! Investigators that take too long making multiple Investigation Rounds may increase the Threat Meter of the adventure.

A Clue Card

Status in Victorian England

Status is an important tool in Baker Street. Many social interactions are influenced by Status. Opposed Status Rolls are used to get an advantage when attempting to convince someone to assist, loan something, provide a favor, or perhaps to even charm or manipulate a person. The Status of an investigator has a track of five circles underneath it. The Mastermind awards or subtracts points based on a character’s behavior and how they are living up to Victorian ideals. As the track is completed, investigators improve in Status. If they are behaving improperly and lose too many points, their Status may fall.

Victorian Boxer with Status

Baker Street was developed by Bryce Whitacre. He authored The Defeated Dead and The French and Indian War for Rogue Games’ epic historical horror RPG, Colonial Gothic. He did the development work for “Coffins and Tombstones,” the first setting in The Spectrum System and holds a history degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He spends most of his time gaming and writing and being a slave to his two cats Augustus Kato and Claudius Tiberious. Currently, we “think” he is working on the next couple of settings for The Spectrum System and writing cases for Baker Street.

Street Urchin: Our sincerest thanks for your support! Everyone who contributes at the Street Urchin level will have their name listed as a Kickstarter contributor in the Baker Street rulebook.

The Sherlock Die Collector: Get (3) Sherlock Dice, credit as a Kickstarter contributor in the Baker Street rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Inspector: Get the PDF rulebook, credit as a Kickstarter contributor, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Investigator: Get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Kickstarter contributor in the Baker Street rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

A look at our concept for the Baker Street RPG softcover.

Consulting Detective: Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Baker Street playtester in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Baker Street Irregular: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Baker Street Irregular. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice (2). Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Baker Street Irregular in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Reprobate: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get a portrait suitable for an investigator profile and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Baker Street Irregular. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Reprobate in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Victorian Londoners: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get a portrait suitable for an investigator profile and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Victorian Londoner. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Victorian Londoner in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Gentlemanly World Adventurer: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as a member of the exclusive Diogenes Club. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Gentlemanly World Adventurer in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Treacherous Villain: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Treacherous Villain. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Treacherous Villain in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Watson's Proteges: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as one of Watson's Proteges. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Reprobate in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Agents of Mycroft: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as an Agent of Mycroft. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as an Agent of Mycroft in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

The Great Detective: Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the one-of-a-kind Limited Edition Hardcover Baker Street rulebook only available in this Kickstarter, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Great Detective in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

An updated concept for the limited edition hardcover!

More about this exclusive book:
These hardcover books will be bound in hunter green vellum and will have the title, author, and official seal of the Conan Doyle estate embossed in gold foil on the front. Each book comes in a matching slipcover and will be hand-signed and numbered on the title page by the Baker Street designer, Bryce Whitacre. In order to make everything as fair as possible, all 250 books will be signed and numbered before being randomly distributed to everyone who pledges for one.

Why are there only 150 of the 250 available at this level:
We're setting some of the books aside as add-ons for backers that have contributed at one of the art reward levels.

"Day One" Backers

Anyone who backs at the Investigator Level or higher during the first three days of the project going live will receive a special Sherlock Die as a thank you.

The "Day One" Sherlock Die

Why Playtester Levels?

We decided some time ago that while we want to offer
you a playable product right after the Kickstarter, we also would love more
input from Sherlock fans and RPG enthusiasts. Therefore, all backers at the Contributing Detective Level and higher will get a
playtest PDF as soon as the Kickstarter ends. The playtest PDF contains all of
the rules that you need to play. You’ll have 6 months to kick the tires, run
some adventures, and provide us with feedback. All of your valued input will go
into the finished version that will be published in late summer of 2014.

The Playtest Level Sherlock Die

Stretch Goal Adventure Writers

We have a treasure trove of talent lined up for Baker Street. As we hit each goal, a new writer will contribute their own adventure that will be added to the core book and released in August of 2014.

Some of our Stretch Goal writers are:

Cynthia Celeste Miller, Designer of the Cartoon Action Hour

Jeff Grubb, Author of Forgotten Realms and Magic the Gathering novels

Jeff Siadek, Creator of Battlestations

Matt DeForrest, of the Pendragon RPGMark Plemmons, of the Corporia RPG

Richard Iorio, of Rogue Games

Skip Williams, Designer of 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons

Steve Long, of the HERO System

Will Thrasher, of Kettle of Fish Productions

Skip Williams will be our first Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $5,000.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Matt DeForrest is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $7,500.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Steve Long is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $10,000.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Cynthia Celeste Miller is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $12,500.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Richard Iorio is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $15,000.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Jeff Siadek is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $17,500.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Will Thrasher is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $20,000.Unlocked! Thank You!

Jeff Grubb is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $25,000.

Unlocked! Thank You!

Mark Plemmons is our next Stretch Goal writer. We will unlock this level when we reach $30,000.

We have a few other writers lined up and we will be announcing the levels and the writers for each level as the previous goal is completed!

Additional Stretch Goal Rewards:

$12,500 - Clue Card Pads! These are 50 sheet scratch pads with a Clue Card template pre-printed on them. We will unlock and add Clue Card Pads to all levels with physical copies of the rulebook at $12,500.

Clue Card Pads are Unlocked! Thank You!

$15,000 - Mastermind Screens!Our next Stretch Goal Level unlocks Mastermind Screens! The first will be a cardstock tri-fold Mastermind Screen. These will unlock and be added to all levels with physical copies of the rulebook when we reach the $15,000 level!

Mastermind Screens are Unlocked! Thank You!

Prototyping the Mastermind Screen. We're going to be updating the image to move the Baker Street sign to the center panel.

A preliminary image of the inside of the Mastermind Screen.

$20,000 UnlocksAt $20,000 we are going to have the Sherlock Dice molded for us, and we'll give you the option to change out the standard green Sherlock Die to one of the to be determined new colors!

New Sherlock Dice are Unlocked! Thank You!

$30,000 Unlocks

Sherlock by Gaslight (Campaign Guide) (Add-On)

This campaign guide will feature a London sourcebook, a poster map of London, and include cases dealing with Jack the Ripper, Dr. Jeckyll, and other horror stories of the time. Jack might even make an appearance on the Sherlock die for the campaign.

-AND-Resolve Tokens (FREE)

All reward levels with physical copies of the rulebook will have Resolve Tokens Added

$40,000 UnlocksStrange Cases in Distant Places (Casebook) (FREE)Murder on a continental train? Crimes of passion aboard a yacht? Jewel thefts in the Far East? This book is a casebook filled with crimes in exotic locales.

-AND-
Deluxe Mastermind Screens (Add-On)
This 3-panel screen is a serious upgrade to the standard cardstock screen that backers are getting with the Baker Street rulebook. This Mastermind Screen will be constructed of high-grade hardcover book stock and printed in full color inside and out.

$50,000 Unlocks In Her Majesty's Secret Service (Campaign Guide) (Add-On)A campaign guide and cases for working in government service under Mycroft Holmes. Political schemes, spies, world traveling, and adventure await! We've been led to believe that Mycroft will be making an appearance on the Sherlock die for the campaign.-AND-
Deluxe Mastermind Screens (FREE)

All of the reward levels with Mastermind Screens will be upgraded to Deluxe Mastermind Screens.

$60,000 UnlocksStudies in Scarlet (Casebook) (FREE)
A book filled with adaptations of classic Sherlock cases straight from the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. Some of the best Sherlock cases brought to life as adventures for your investigators.

$75,000 UnlocksSherlock Holmes: Dark-Watch (Campaign Guide) (Add-On)This is a stand-alone campaign guide that takes a look at an alternate Steampunk Victorian world for Sherlock. Science has progressed in leaps and bounds with fantastical steam powered machines. Professor Moriarty has released a biological agent on the countrysides of England causing the dead to return to life. Dr. Watson is an alchemist, Sherlock a steampunk scientist, and Mycroft is a magic practitioner protecting Britain from a myriad of supernatural threats.-AND-Hardcover Upgrades (FREE)

We will upgrade everyone’s softcover books to hardcover versions.

Clue Card Pads:Have (2) Clue Card Pads added to any reward level with a physical copy of the rulebook for only $2.

Sherlock Dice:Have (2) Sherlock Dice added to any reward level with a physical copy of the rulebook for only $5.Have (3) Sherlock Dice added to your PDF reward level for only $10.

Softcover Rulebooks:Have an additional softcover Baker Street rulebook added to any reward level with a physical copy of the rulebook for only $25.

Mastermind Screens: Have an additional cardstock tri-fold Mastermind Screen added to any reward level with a physical copy of the rulebook for only $15.

Deluxe Mastermind Screens: -Locked-Have a Deluxe Mastermind Screen added to any reward level with a physical copy of the rulebook for only $25.

Campaign Guides: -Locked-Campaign guides will be available to pledge levels of Inspector and up. A campaign guide can be added to your pledge level by adding $10 for a PDF copy or $20 for a print copy. Campaign Guides will ship separately from the Baker Street RPG, so if you are adding print copies of a campaign guide, please add $5 to assist with international shipping. Campaign Guides are expected to begin shipping December 2014.

More Add-Ons are coming soon!

Baker Street: Roleplaying in the World of Sherlock Holmes is proud to be officially licensed by the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Estate.

Risks and challenges

There are only a few remaining challenges to completing the project. We're already about 80% of the way through the layout and are looking forward to continuing playtesting a more finalized version of Baker Street.
We also have multiple sources available for printing the rulebooks as well as for manufacturing our Sherlock Dice.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $45 or more
About $45

Consulting Detective: Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice (2). Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Baker Street playtester in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

Baker Street Irregular: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Baker Street Irregular. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice (2). Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Baker Street Irregular in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $85 or more
About $85

Reprobate: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get a portrait suitable for an investigator profile and have your character included in artwork in the book. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice (2). Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Reprobate in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $95 or more
About $95

Victorian Londoners: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get a portrait suitable for an investigator profile and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Victorian Londoner. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Victorian Londoner in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

Gentlemanly World Adventurer: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as a member of the exclusive Diogenes Club. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice (2). Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Gentlemanly World Adventurer in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

Treacherous Villain: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as a Treacherous Villain. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Treacherous Villain in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $110 or more
About $110

Watson's Proteges: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice (2). Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as one of Watson's Proteges in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $120 or more
About $120

Agents of Mycroft: Provide us with a photo and character concept to get an investigator profile portrait and have your character included in artwork in the book as an Agent of Mycroft. Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the softcover rulebook, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as an Agent of Mycroft in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

The Great Detective: Get access to the playtest material and (2) exclusive Kickstarter Sherlock Dice. Also get the one-of-a-kind Limited Edition Hardcover Baker Street rulebook only available in this Kickstarter, (2) Sherlock Dice, the PDF, credit as a Great Detective in the rulebook, and our sincerest thanks for your support!